Fence-stretcher.



P. A. REID.

FENCE STRETOHBR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29,1906.

969,980. Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

5 /0 a? i j f '13 E e O a :5

0 o e E a F UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETTIS A. REID, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

FENCE-STRETCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PE'rrIs A. REID, a citizen of the United States,residing at Richmond, in the county of WVayne and State of Indiana, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in F once-Stretchers; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to machines and apparatus for stretching fences,such as woven wire, slat or other elastic fencing, and for performinganalogous kinds of work, such as pulling, drawing or lifting.

The main objects and accomplishments of the invention are: (1)simplification and improvement of the construction, operation andefficiency of chain-wheel stretching machines of the character disclosedin my prior U. S. Patent No. 551788 of December 24, 1895, in which apulling chain attached to the fence or fence-clamp is passed around acrank-operated and dog-retained chainwheel whose bearing or holder isconnected to a suitable anchor-post, so that the fence is stretched byturning the chain-wheel to take up or shorten the taut run of its chain;elimination of the usual wood stock or staff for supporting thechain-wheel holders, where two or more machines are used in a gang ordouble arrangement for indepcnd ently stretching the top and bot-tom ofa fence; and provision of an improved doubledraft stretching apparatusof simpler, cheaper and more etficient character, adapted for obtainingindependent strain of either the top and bottom of the fence, withoutaffecting the pull of one machine when the other is operated; saidapparatus being also well adapted for other uses, as for lifting orpulling loads, drawing stumps, etc., in which case the machines can bearranged in tandem so that the operator may take up first the run of onechain and then the run of the second; (3) provision of a simple andconvenient stirrup for quickly attaching the chains or connections ofthe machines to the fence-clamps without the use of bolts or othermanipulative fastenings.

The invention will be fully described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of this specification, and then moreparticularly pointed out and de- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 29, 1905.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910'.

Serial No. 262,897.

fined in the claim at the end of description.

In said drawings: Figure l is a side view of a double-draftfence-stretching apparatus embodying my invention. Fi 2 is a side viewof one of the chain-wheel machines. Fig. 3 is a front end View thereof.Fig. 4: shows the end of the lever for turning the chain-wheel. Figs. 5,(S, 7 8 and 9 are detail views of the stirrup; Fig. 5 showing a slightlydifferent form from that shown in the remaining figures.

A denotes an ordinary fence-clamp, in which the end of a wire fence isshown clamped in the usual manner.

B indicates an anchor-post, which sustains the pull on the fencing; thetrttching apparatus being arranged between the fenceclamp and post andconnected to both.

C C denote a pair of chain-wheel stretchers, which are alike, whereforea description of one will suffice.

The machine is similar to that disclosed in my aforesaid prior patent,but without the supporting stall which in the old construction wasclamped between a twopart whcel'block or holder. The holder of thepresent machine is smaller, lighter and stronger. It is in the form of acompact pulley-block, having a hook o (for connection by a chain, linkor otherwise to either the fence-clamp or a nchor-post), and having thechain-wheel D mounted between its sideplates, which preferably terminatein projecting portions or fingers c c with an interposed brace 0-. As inthe former machine, the chain-wheel may have central bosses journaled inopenings in the sides of the block, and may have an axial squared orpolygonal opening (1 to receive a corresponding lug or projection f onan operating lever F, which lever may of course serve for operating bothmachines. The chain E, which may be provided with a hook c, is attachedeither to the fence-clai'np or anchor-post (the chain-wheel holder beingattached of course to the other); and said chain passes prefe'ably underand around over the chainwhcel, and its free end hangs down over thebrace out of the way, where it is not liable to wind or double up orotherwise interfere with the proper action of the chain-wheel. Thechain-wheel D is of course suitably toothed or otherwise formed forengagement by the links of the chain, having preferably arrangement, oneconnected to the upper alink, chain or otherwise, and may have its.sition between the post and clamp; this proved formis particularlysuitable for the independent work explained in the presentspecification, and is therefore preferred; nevertheless it will beunderstood that I am not restricted thereto in the double-draftapparatus now to be described, or in respect to other features of myinvention.

The two machines C C are shown in gang parts of the fence-clamp andanchor-post, the other connected to the lower parts of the same; wherebythe use and operation of each machine is wholly independent, allowingindependent stretchmg of either the top or bottom of the fence, withoutaffecting the other machine or causing slack of its chain,

Each machine may be directly attached either to the anchor-post orfence-clamp, by

chain wheel connected by the chain to the other member, that is theclamp or post as the case may be; and the machines may be arranged inmost convenient or expedient pofaculty for independent use anddisposition or arrangement being afforded by elimination of the usualstock or staff for supporting the chain-wheel holders, and the absenceof any connection between the two machines.

As shown, the upper machine is attached to the fence-clamp, and itschain is connected to the anchor-post; while the lower machine isreversed, it being attached to the anchorpost and its chain connected tothe fenceclamp. This arrangement, which as aforesaid, is permitted byvirtue of elimination of the staff, is preferable because it affordsgreater convenience, freedom and ease of operation of the lever for eachchain-wheel, to which the power may be applied by a downward stroke inthe unobstructed spar. between the post and clamp; avoiding interferenceby either the fence, clamp, post or by the other machine. workman toconveniently operate two inachines simultaneously, if desired, in whichevent the two levers may be attached to opposite sides of the apparatusand both thrown downward in the same direction, for applying the pull,since the chain-wheels act reversely and take up the chains in oppositedirections.

With this apparatus, great pulling power is attained, in addition toindependent strain of the top and bottom of I the fencing. bhould thefabrlc slip from between the clamp-plates when nearly taut, it is notneclt also enables a essary to undo the clamp and readjust it, but allthat is required 1s to draw the clamps together and pull up the fenceplumb, by

means of the chain-wheels.

The apparatus 1s well adapted for such uses as lifting heavy loads,wagon-beds, or

cotton bales, moving buildings, drawing.

stumps, etc., in which case one machine may be used alone, or two may beemployed in tandem arrangement, so as to permit taking up first onechain and then the other.

For the purpose of quickly and conveniently attaching either thechainwheel block or the chain to the fence-clan'ip A, without the use ofbolts or other fastenings, l. have devised a special stirrup H, composedof two parts I and J which embrace the clamp and are self-lockedtogether when the chain or other connection to the machine is attachedthereto; member J having at its rear end an outstanding finger orprojection j which fits-loosely in an aperture 2' in the same end of theother member I (or it may be an apertured lug on the end of said memberI as in Fig, while at the opposite ends said members I and J haveregistering eyes or apertured extensions i j turned preferably tiatwiseand overlapping so as to constitute a single eye to receive the hook eof the chain E, or the hook 0 of the chainwheel holder C, according towhich one is attached to the stirrup. Two constructions of the stirrupare shown, in Figs. 5 and 6, each embodying the same principle. Toconnect one of the machines to the clamp, it is simply necessary tobring the two parts I and J together around the clamp, engaging thefinger j in the eye or aperture and then engage either the chain-hook 0or the block-hook in the eyes if j. To dist-ow net-t, it is onlynecessary to disengage the chain-hook or block-hook and take apart themembers I and .l.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States: In a fence-stretcher, the combination with a fence-clamp,of a stirrup comprising two se 'iarable half-parts adapted to embracesaid clamp and to be self-locked in position, one half-part. formed atone end with an eye at right-angles to the plane of the stirrup, and theother half-part having, at the same end a rearwardly or outwardlyprojeoting stud to enter and lock in said eye, and both half partsformed at their ,oppo site ends with eyes turned fiatwise in the planeof the stirrup and overlapping so as to constitute a single eye forengagement by the hook of a fence-stretcher. I

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

' PETTIS A. REID. Witnesses f JOHN H. ZIMMERMAN, Evnnn'r'r R,'Linron, v

